Celebrating Catholic Schools Week: Faith, Fun, and Community

We just completed our annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week. For our students, it means a variety of fun activities to break up the winter months. For example they got to go bowling, wear wacky hair, dress Hawaiian, a rock/ paper/ scissors tournament, and a talent show. The concluding fun activity of the week is the traditional volleyball game between the staff and eighth graders. The students also joined together as a school to pray a Rosary during the week and decorated their classroom doors with a Saint theme. The week's main event is always Mass with our Bishop and the other three schools in St. Croix County.

As we complete Catholic Schools Week I was reflecting on the fact that I have never served a parish that did not have a Catholic School. I can’t imagine what it would be like not to have the activities of a Catholic School as a part of my routine. Though having 272 students and the staff to serve them seldom makes for a routine day. It is added responsibilities as a pastor, but 110% worth it. I didn’t have the opportunity to attend a Catholic School myself, but have come to appreciate the value of a Catholic School education. 

If your children attend our school, thank you for entrusting us with their education and formation in our faith. If your children are not enrolled in our school, I would encourage you to prayerfully consider what a Catholic Education would mean for them and for you. We offer education for students three years old through eighth grade. We are an option for the Hudson School District’s four-year-old kindergarten program as well. Call our principal and schedule a tour today. 

This past week we were able to present to our Parish Finance Council statements that take us through the first six months of our fiscal year. Remember back at the end of November we said farewell to Mae Wolfe, who had handled our accounting for the past 7 1/2 years and welcomed Scott Jacobi as our new Director of Parish Finances. 

This has proven to be a big change and I am grateful to both Mae and Scott for the work they have done the past almost two months. While Mae’s official last day was at the end of November, she continued to serve as an invaluable resource for Scott and our parish. Scott was hired for a thirty-hour week and has put in several weeks that have likely approached sixty hours or even more. 

It is easy to forget the magnitude of our financial obligations. Our revenue and expenses exceed three million dollars. At this time of year we receive many generous gifts, need to track whether contributions came in the previous calendar year or the new year, issue 1099 statements, and of course close out the statements for the first half of the fiscal year. The biggest task is also Ellen’s job of sending out end-of-the-year statements. If you have a discrepancy with your statement, contact Ellen in our parish office immediately.

Next week I will share with you information from our financial reports.